Machine for marking mail-matter



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1-.

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE. MACHINE FOR MARKING MAIL MATTER.

Patented Feb. 9, 1892'.

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{No Model.)

5 SheetsSheet 2.

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

MACHINE FOR MARKING MAIL MATTER.

Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE. MACHINE FOR MARKING MAIL MATTER.

No. 468,774. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

(No Model.) 5 Sh'eetsSheet 5.

M. -V.. B. ETHRIDGE.

MACHINE FOR MARKING MAIL MATTER.

No. 468,774. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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ilnirnn STATES PATENT @rrrcs.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN POSTAL MACHINES COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

MACHINE FOR MARKING MAIL-MATTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,? '74, datedFebruary 9, 1892. Application filed October 16, 1391. Serial No-408,943. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: work, and thus holding it positively in apre- Be it known that I, MARTINV. B. ETHRIDGE, determined positionpreparatory to the next of Everett, in the county of Middlesex andoperation. State of Massachusetts, have invented cer- The invention alsoincludes certain combi- 5 tain new and useful Improvements in Manationsand the construction of certain elechines for Marking Mail-Matter, ofwhich the ments of an organized machine embodying following is aspecification. my invention.

This invention relates to that class of ma- Of the accompanyingdrawings, forming a chines for marking letters and other mailpart ofthis specification, Figure 1 represents to matter in which aprinting-roll or die-cylina side elevation of a machine embodying my deris caused to rotate by the movement of a invention, that portion of themachine which letter toward it, the letter acting on a suitincludes thedie-cylinder, its driver, and lockable starting device, which indirectlycauses ing or arresting devices being shown in secthe die cylinder torotate at the proper time tion. Fig. 1 represents a part detached. 15 toprint an impression upon the passingletter. Fig. 2 represents a detachedview of a portion The invention has for its chief object to of themachine, showing the air-pump which provide means for more efficientlyoperating supplies power to the motor. Fig. 3 reprethe die-cylinder thanheretofore and for caussents a top view of the machine. Fig. 4 repingthe rotation of the die-cylinder by the resents a section on line 4 4 ofFig. 1, looking 7o 20 action of a motor supplied with power in anytoward the left. Fig. 5 represents a section suitable way, the motoracting to engage a on line 5 5, Fig. 1, looking toward the right. driverwith the die-cylinder, which is thus Fig. 6 represents a side elevationof aportion more positively and effectively operated than of themachine, showing movable hearings or in machines of this classheretofore used, in holders which support the impression-r011 2 5 whichthe die-cylinder is engaged with a drivand one of the feed-rollshereinafter referred ing-shaft and caused to rotate by the direct to.Fig. 6 represents an enlarged section on action of a trigger or startingdevice located line 6 6 Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a section in the paththrough which the letters pass to on line 7 7, Fig. 1, looking towardthe right. the die-cylinder, my improvement involving Fig. 8 representsa section on line 8 8, Fig. 1, 0 the employment of a starting devicewhich and a plan view of the parts below said line.

acts only to release or set in operation the Fig. 9 represents a sideelevation of parts of motor which performs the operation of startthemachine shown in Fig. 8. Fig; 10 repreing the die-cylinder. sents a sideView of the die-cylinder. Fig.

My invention therefore consists mainly in 11 represents an end view, andFig. 12a side 3 5 the combination, with a die-cylinder which is View, ofthe va1ve-chestand the valve-operadapted to be connected with anddisconating devices. Fig. 13 represents a perspecnected from the shaftor driver that rotates tive view of the valve. Figs. 14E and 15 repit,of a motor adapted to establish the connecresent sections on lines 14and 15, Fig. 12. tion between the die-cylinder and its driver, Fig. 16represents a perspective view of the 0 40 a starting device located inthe path through valve in a difierent position. Figs. 17 and 18 whichthe letters pass to the die-cylinder and are sections on lines Hand 15,Fig. 12, showadapted to release or start the motor, which is ing thevalve in the position shown in Fig. 16. adapted to impart a givenmovement to the Fig. 19 represents a longitudinal section of driver ofthe die-cylinder and thus connect the valve on the plane indicated byline 19 19, 5 45 said driverand cylinder, and means operated Fig. 16.Figs. 20, 21, and 22 represent modiby the resulting rotation of thedie-cylinder, fications hereinafter referred to.

whereby the motor is reset for its next opera- The same letters andnumerals of reference tion. indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The invention also includes the provision In the drawings, a representsthe support- 0 of means for arresting the rotation of the die- Iing-frame, having a shelf or table a, along cylinder after it hasperformed its allotted which the letters to be marked are carried bymeans such as a conveying-belt b and pressure devices co-operatingtherewith to the feed-rolls and printing mechanism presently described,and another table (1 which receives the printed letters and is providedwith a packing device, the packing-table being preferably located at alower plane than the feeding or supply table, so that the printedletters, after leaving the table Cb, descend onto the packing-table. Thefeed-table is preferably formed to continuously support the letters notonly while they are being impelled by the carrying-belt, but also whilethey are under the positive control of the feedrolls and printing andimpression rolls next described.

0 represents the printing-roll or dye-cylin' der, which is located abovethe table a and is mounted on a fixed tubular journal or sleeve a androtated by a continuously-rotating driver, which is composed of a shaftor spindle c, passing through said journal or sleeve, and a movableclutch on said shaft, the die-cylinder receiving motion from said driveronly when connected therewith by the clutch, which is caused to connectthe die-cylinder with the shaft by a letter approaching thedie-cylinder, as hereinafter described, and maintains the connectionuntil the die-cylinder has made a complete rotation, the connectionbeing then automatically discontinued, so that the rotation of thedie-cylinder ceases. A clutch or locking device is provided to arrestthe die-cylinder and prevent from the conveyor b.

it from rotating loosely at the moment of its disconnection from theshaft, so that the dieis at all times positively controlled.

An impression-roll d co-operates with the die-cylinder in printing theletters, and the letters are positively presented to the im;pression-roll and die-cylinder by means of feed-rolls e e, arranged toreceive the letters The impression-roll is aiiixed to a shaft d, and thefeed-rolls c e are affixed to shafts 6' c The said shafts c, d, e, and eare provided with gearsf at their lower ends and are rotated by powercommunicated from a shaft g by means of a gear g on said shaft meshingwith an independent gear 9 (shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3) and a gear 9affixed to the shaft 6, a gear g af-' fixed to the independent gear 9and meshing with the gears ffon the shafts c and d", and

a gear 9 meshing with the gears ff on the shafts e and c, as shown in.Fig. 3, the feedrolls, die-cylinder, driver, and impression-roll beingrotated simultaneously by said gearing and all receiving motion from theshaft g. The shafts e c are journaled in bearings in an ear or flange 0formed on or attached to a standard or bracket 0 affixed to thesupporting-frame. I Figs. 1 and at as offset to accommodate the roll 13hereinafter referred to, on the shaft 0. The shafts d and e arejournaled in bear- 1 ings in yokes or frames 8 8, having ears 3 3 whichare'mounted to swing on a stud 3 Fig.

Said flange is shown in- 6, affixed to the supporting-frame, the lowerend of said stud being attached to a bracket or car 5 Figs. 5 and 6,formed on a vertical plate 3 forming a part of the supportingframe,while its upper end is engaged with the horizontal plate 3 of thesupportingframe. The lower end of one of the frames 8 rests and turnsfreely on the bracket 5 The swinging movement of the frames 8 5 enablesthe impression-roll and the feed-roll on the shaft 6 to yield to theextent required by variationsin the thickness of letters passing betweenthe feed-rolls and between the impression-roll and die-cylinder. Springs.9 bearing on" the frames 5, act to normally press the rolls carried bysaid frames against the parts with which they co'operate.

The letter operated mechanism that engages the die-cylinder with itsdriver is as follows: 0 Fig. 1, represents a sleeve adapted to slide onthe shaft 0' and connected therewith by means of a feather or spline con the shaft engaging a groove (not shown) in the sleeve, thisconnection causing the sleeve to rotate with the shaft and permittingitto slide thereon. The sleeve 0 is provided with a clutch surface ormember 0 formed to engage a corresponding clutch surface or member c onthe die-cylinder c, said members being preferably formed to act as aclutch of the frictional type, although they may be formed to actpositively, if preferred. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 6 thesleeve 0 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 to make theclutch members inoperative by means of a sleeve 0, which is mounted toslide on the fixed bearing or sleeve a and is normally raised by aspring c into contact with the sleeve 0 A spring 0 is arranged to pressthe sleeve 0 in the opposite direction, and thus operatively connect thetwo clutch members; but said spring is weaker than the spring 0 Hence itacts only when the spring 0 and sleeve 0 are retracted, as presentlydescribed. The clutch members 0 c are therefore normally separated bythe spring 0 leaving the die-cylinder loose upon its drivingshaft.

0 is a roll or drum mounted on the shaft 0 and having a cavity whichreceives the spring 0 said roll being formed to cover the driver-clutchcollar 0 and to co-operate with the impression-roll d in supporting andguiding the letters. The sleeve 0 is prevented from rotating by means ofa pin or stud z, affixed to the sleeve orbearing a and passing through aslot 2' in said sleeve.

To engage the die-cylinder with the driver above described I employ amotor which is caused to act by starting device operated by suitablyaffixed to the supporting-frame, and a piston 72, in said cylinder,means being provided, as presently described, to introduce compressedair or other fluid under pressure into the cylinderin sucha manner as tomove the piston first in one direction and then back. The piston has arod 7L2 extending through one end of the cylinder and engaged with alever 77?, which is affixed to a rock-shaft 7L mounted in fixed bearingsand provided with an arm 71. which bears on a stud h 0n a lever 72 Oneend of said lever 77. is pivoted at it to the supporting-frame, and itsother end bears on a flange on the lower end of the sleeve 0". When thepiston and its rod are moved in the direction indicated by the arrowinFig.

1, the arm 7L5 is moved to depress the lever 7L7, said lever being thuscaused to retract the sleeve 0 and spring and permit the spring c toforce the driver-clutch c into engagment with the die-cylinder.

The motorcylinder h is provided with a valve chest or casing h,havinginlets at h h for the reception of the piston-impelling fluid,said inlets being connected by a suitable arrangement of pipes 71 with asource of supply of the impelling-fluid, which source is here shown as apump 2', (see Fig. 2,) the piston of which is operated by a connectionwith the driving-shaft of the machine, as hereinafterdescribed,said pumpbeingconnected with the conducting-pipe h in such a manner as to forcecompressed air therethrough to the inlets h It. In the valve-chest h isa rotary cylindrical valve 71 aflixed to a shaft or spin- (lle 7t,adapted to oscillate in hearings in the valve-casing, said valve beingconstructed and arranged so that when said shaft is turned to theposition shown in Figs. 16, 17, and 18 the impelling-fluid will pass toone end of the cylinderthrough a passage 71 and thus impel the piston inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the fluid in theopposite end of the cylinder at the same time exhausting through apassage h and an exhaust-port h, which is connected therewith by thevalve h. lVhen the shaft h is turned to its other position, (shown inFigs. 13, 14, and 15,) the impellingfluid is permitted to pass throughthe passage h into the opposite end of the cylinder,th us retracting thepiston, the fluid exhausting from the other end of the cylinder throughthe passage h and an exhaust-port h, which is then connected by thevalve with the lastnamed passage. The valve is provided at one end withports 25 26 in its lower portion, which connect alternately wlth thepassage h and with a port 29 in its upper portion, which in one positionof the valve connects with the exhaust-port It. (See Figs. 14 and 17.)The opposite end of the valve has ports 27 28 in its lower portion,connecting alternately with the passage 77, and a port 30 in its upperportion, which in one position of the valve connects with theexhaust-port h". (See Figs.15 and 18.) The interior of the valve isdivided by partitions 31 and 33 into chambers, two of which are closedat the ends of the cylinder by walls 32 32. One of said chambersconnects the exhaust-ports 26 and 29 at one end of the valve, Fig. 14,while the other chamber connects the exhaust-ports 28 and 30 at theother end of the valve, Fig. 18. The chambers containing the inlet-ports25 and 27' are open at the ends of the valve and both receive theimpelling-fiuid.

The valve-chest is longer than the valve (see Fig. 12) and containschambers at the ends oftthe valve which receive the impellingfluid fromthe inlet h h, the valve being therefore at all times balanced, so thatit may be easily turned from one position to the other by the spring 77.and arm. j as next described.

The valve is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 13, 14, and bymeans of an arm and devices co-operating therewith, as hereinafterdescribed, said arm acting on the valve through a lever 71 pivoted at hto the supporting-frame and provided with a gearsegment h meshing with agear or pinion W affixed to the shaft 71.

72 represents a spring engaged at one end with the lever 72, and at itsother end with a fixed arm or other support h the stress of said springbeing exerted to move the lever h from the position in which it is heldby the arm 3' when said arm is displaced by a moving letter, aspresently described, the shaft 71 and its valve being moved by thespring to the position required to admit the impelling-fluid to theright-hand end of the cylinder, as viewed in Fig. 1, and permit thefluid to exhaust. from the opposite end of the cylinder.

j represents a finger or projectiomwhich is arranged in the path throughwhich a letter moves in entering between the feed-rolls, said fingerbeing preferably arranged at about the point of nearest approach of saidrolls, as shown in Fig. 8. Said. finger is formed on a yoke or frame j,which has a sliding motion on a block 7' mounted loosely on the shaft 6,the slot or opening in the framej, that receives the block 7' beinglonger than said block, so that the frame j and the projection j thereonare adapted to move toward and from the path of the letter, the looseconnection of the block to the shaft e permitting said block and theframej to turn or oscillate on the shaft 6. The yoke or frame j isprovided withan arm j which is arranged to bear upon the lever 771 asshown in Fig. 8. When the letter is advancing in the direction indicatedby the arrow along the path indicated by the dotted line It it in Fig. 8and strikes the finger or projection 7, it moves the said finger and theyoke or frame j and its attachments from the position shown in fulllines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. This movement causes thearm j to move toward the fixed support W of the spring 72 and thuspermits-said spring to move the lever 72, to the position required tochange the valve 77, to the position required to give the piston itsforward orclutch-operating motion. As the finger or projection j ismoved in the arc of a circle by the letter, it is gradually displacedout of the path of the letter, as shown by dotted lines, so that theletter passes by the projection on its way to the die-cylinder. Aspringj is connected to the arm j formed on the yoke or frame j, saidspring being connected at one end with the supporting-frame and arrangedso that it normally holds the yoke or frame and its projectionj in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the spring yielding to permitthe displacement of the projection and frame by the letter.

j represents a finger, which is pivotally connected at f to thesupporting-frame, and is normally held by the spring j in position toencounter a stud 7' on the lower end of the arm when the latter ismoving from its full-line to its dotted-line position. The

swinging end of said finger hasa projection which enters a segmentalslot 7 in the sup- 1 porting-frame, and is held by the spring j againstone end of said slot.

When the armj is moving to its dotted-line position, its studj passesover the fingerj the latter yielding and 1 swinging horizontally untilthe stud passes,

over it, the spring j returning the finger j to the position shown afterthe arm 7' has passed to its dotted-line position. WVhen the yoke 0rframej' is restored to its normal position by Q the spring 7' the arm 3'strikes the under side 1 of the finger j and is caused thereby to movedownwardly, thus carrying the yoke or frame j and fingerj downwardlyduring the return movement of said finger, so that the finger assumes aposition at right angles to the path of the letter and is ready tore-enter said path as soon as the passing letter has passed on, t

the spring 3' pressing the finger upwardly against the letter andraising it to its operative position after the passage of the letter.The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows: Theletters are presented to the belt or carrierbbyaclerk stand- 1 ing bythe table a, the letters being guided toward the belt by a diagonalguide a attached thereto.

(See Fig. 3.) A series of swinging arms or fingers m, pressed by springsm toward the belt, press the letters against the-belt as they pass alongand thus insure the frictional contact between the letters and 1 beltnecessary for the carrying of the letters forward by the belt. liveredto the feed-rolls e e, which are con- Each letter is thus detinuouslyrotated by the means above de scribed. The feed-rolls impart a positivefor.- ward movement to the letter and force it against the projection orfinger .7 Which is displaced by the letter, as described, so that thelever 71 is released by the arm j The spring h thereupon acts throughthe lever h segment 71 gear 72 and shaft 71, on the I valve 72 andchanges its position so that compressed air is admitted through thepassage h to the right-hand end of the cylinder.

The piston being normally at this end of the cylinder, the admission ofair thereto forces the piston and its rod in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 1,thus moving the lever 72, and causing it to retractthe clutchdisplacing sleeve. The driverclutch c is then engaged by thespring 0 with the die cylinder clutch c and the die-cylinder thereuponcommencesto rotate positively with the shaft 0, the printing charactersor surfaces on the die-cylinder being thus caused to act on the letterat a given point in the forward movement thereof. The impression -roll(I, which is continuously rotated, co-operates with the die cylinderduring the rotation thereof in feeding the letter forward and deliveringit upon the packing-table a The die-cylinder is provided with a tooth orprojection c at its upper end, which strikes an arm 7' on the yoke orframe j when the diecylinder has nearly completed its rotation andrestores the said yoke and the finger j to their operative position justat the completion of a full rotation of the die-cylinder. This movementof the yoke or frame j causes the armj to move the lever 71 against thestress of the spring 713, thus shifting the valve to the positionrequired to retract the piston and release the lever h ,whereupon thespring 0' raises the sleevec anddisconnectsthedriver-clutch fromthedie-cylinder. Thesleevec isprovidedwith a clutch-surface 0 which isbrought in contact with a similar clutch-surface 0 on the die cylinderby the upward movement of the sleeve, thus stopping the rotation of thediecylinder. At the same time two lugs or ears 0 0 Fig. 1, on the sleeve0 enter recesses 0 0 Fig. 10, in the lower end of the die-cylinder, andbybearing against shoulders at the ends of said recesses determine withexactness the position in which the die-cylinder stops, so that whensaid cylinder is again rotated its printing characters are exactly timedas to the point where they commence to print the letter.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each letter on its way to thedie-cylinder actuates the finger j and arm 3' the latter releasing thelever h and permitting the spring 71, to shift the valve, thus causingthe motor to perform the operation of connecting the die-cylinder withits driver. It will also be seen that the die-cylinder in completing theresulting rotation acts by its tooth o to restore the motor-startingdevice to its operative position, and thusby again changing the positionof the valve reset or prepare the motor for its next operation.

Bythe employment of a motorset in operation by a letter-operatedstarting device to connect the die-cylinder with its driver, I enableeach moving letter to quickly make the marking device operative withoutimposing any excessive and inj urious duty on the moving letters, theonly force or pressure required valve being that involved in overcomingthe slight excess of force of the spring-j over that of the spring W,the spring being suiiiciently stronger than the spring h to enable thearm 7' to hold the device 71 against the force of the spring h whenthere is no pressure against the finger j. The motor therefore makes themachine more reliable and positive in its operation than a machine inwhich the diecylinder is connected with its driving-shaft wholly by theforce or pressure exerted by the moving letters against a startingdevice or trigger.

I do not limit myself to the particular motor and the means for startingand resetting the same here shown, but may employ any other suitablemotor and starting and resetting devices Without departing from thespirit of my invention. An equivalent motor is shown and described inanother application filed by me concurrently herewith, which consists ofan electro-magnet, the armature of which is secured to the lever 7L7,said magnet being energized by the action of a circuit-closer operatedby the movement of the fingerj by a letter, and thus caused to attractthe armature with sufficient force to give the lever k the movementwhich connects the driverclutch with the die-cylinder, the circuit beingbroken by the return of the finger j to its starting position, thusreleasing the armature and permitting the separation of the driverclutchfrom the die-cylinder.

The packing-table a has an opening a in which is located thepacking-screwm Said screw is attached to a shaft m arranged at rightangles with the path in which the letters are moved forward by thefeeding and printing mechanism. The letters as they are forced upon thepackingtable enter the spaces between the convolutions of the screw, andare moved by the rotation of the latter in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 3. A guard or wall a extends along two sides of thetable to prevent the letters from falling off. A linger n is pivoted atn to said wall and has a curved end n arranged to be struck by theforward end of an advancing letter, the blow of the letter causing thepart 01 of said finger to swing against the side of the letter and forceit laterally out of the path in which it advances to the screw, so thatit will not obstruct the succeeding letter.

0 represents the driving-shaft of the machine, which is connected bygears 0 0 with a shaft 0 One end of the shaft 0 is con nected bybevel-gears 0 0 with a shaft 0 which in turn is connected by gears 0 owith the shaft m that rotates the packing-screw. The other end of theshaft 0 is connected by bevel-gears 0 0 with the shaft g, which operatesthe feed-rolls,impression-roll, and diecylinder driver, as abovedescribed. The shaft 9 has a pulley o which is connected by a belt 0with a pulley o 011 a shaft 0 on which is a pulley 0 which drives theconveying-belt Z).

The air-pump i, Fig. 2, comprises a cylinder attached to thesupporting-frame, a piston 71' in said cylinder, and spring-controlledinlet and outlet valves 2' and 2' the valve 2 yielding inwardly to admitair to the cylinder when the piston is raised, while the valve 2 yieldsto permit the air to pass under pressure to the pipe h when the pistondescends. The rod 2' of the piston is connected by a rod 71 with a strap2' on an eccentric on the driving-shaft 0.

The construction of various parts of the above-described mechanism maybe modified in several particulars Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In Fig. I show the driver-clutch sleeve 0 extended down to the lever h",the spring bearing directly against the lower end of said sleeve, thesleeve 0 being omitted. In this case the lever h bears on a flange c onthe clutch-sleeve, and is therefore adapted to depress said sleevewithout the aid of the spring 0 the latter being omitted. It will beseen, therefore, that the motor may act directly in connecting thedriver-clutch with the die-cylinder instead of acting only to releasethe clutch, so that the latter may be connected with the die-cylinder bythe spring 0 In Fig. 21 I show the sleeve 0 provided with two flanges 0and 0 arranged to bear on opposite sides of the lever h so that saidlever moves the sleeve 0 positively in both directions, the spring 0being omitted, it being understood that with such construction suitablemeans will be employed to insure the operation of the lever 71,positively in both directions by the motion of the lever 71 In Fig. 22 Ishow the arm j connected by a linkj' with the lever k and thus adaptedto move said lever in both directions, the spring h being omitted.

u, Figs. 3 and 5, represents a slide, which is movable toward and fromthe die-cylinder c on guides on the plate 5 and carries an inkingrollit, having a handle 1.0 by which the operator can remove theink-rollinto contact with the die-cylinder. A spring a attached at one end to anarm n on the slide a and at the other end to a fixed arm anormallyseparates the inking-roll from the die-cylinder.

I claim- 1. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a die-cylinder, a driverhaving a clutch normally separated from the diecylinder, a motor, amotor-starting device arranged in the letter-path, devices controlled bythe motor, whereby the clutch is connected with the die-cylinder whenthe motor is operated, and means for resetting the motor by the rotationof the die-cylinder, as set forth.

2. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of adie-cylinder, a driver having a clutch normallyseparated from andadapted to be engaged with the die-cylinder, a motor, a motor-startingmechanism operated by an advancing letter, devicescontrolled by themotor, whereby the clutch is connected with the die-cylinder when themotor is operated, devices operated by the resulting rotation of thedie-cylinder to reset the motor for its next operation, and adie-cylinder-locking device engaged with the motor and adapted to bedisplaced by the clutch-operating movement of the motor and madeoperative by the resetting movement of the motor, as set forth.

3. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of adie-cylinder mounted on a fixed sleeve or journal, a driver comprisinga'rotating shaft or spindle and a clutch rotating with and movable onsaid spindle, a spring adapted to engage the clutch with thedie-cylinder, a stronger spring adapted to normally displace thedriver-clutch, a motor adapted to displace said stronger spring andthereby permit the connection of the driverclutch with the die-cylinder,a motor-starting device operated by a moving letter, and means operatedby the rotation of the die-cylinder for resetting the motor andpermitting the displacement of the driver-clutch, as set forth.

4. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of adie-cylinder mounted on a fixed sleeve or journal, a driver comprising arotating shaft or spindle, and a clutch rotating with and movable onsaid spindle, a spring adapted to automatically engage the clutch withthe die-cylinder, a stronger spring adapted to displace thedriver-clutch, alever adapted to retract said stronger spring and thuspermit the operation of the driver-clutch, and means, substantially asdescribed, for operating the said lever, as set forth.

5. In a machine for marking mail-matter, a die-cylinder mounted ona'fi-xed sleeve or journal, combined with a driver comprising a rotaryshaft or spindle and a clutch rotating with and movable on said spindle,a spring adapted to engage the driver-clutch with the die-cylinder, astopping-sleeve having means for engaging and locking the die-cylinderand provided with an actuating-spring which is stronger than the driverclutch spring, a motor adapted to displace the stopping-sleeve andpermit the operation of the driver-clutch, a motor-starting deviceoperated by a moving letter, and means operated by the rotation of thedie-cylinder for resetting the motor and permitting the actionof thestopping-sleeve, as set forth.

6. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination,withletter-feeding mechanism and an impression-roll, of a die-cylinder,a'driver having a clutch adapted to engage the die-cylinder an dnormally separated th erefrom, a motor, including a cylinder, a pistonand a lever operated by movements of said piston, connections betweensaid lever and the driver-clutch, wh ereby said clutch is made operativeby a movement of the piston in one direction, means for operating theclutch, a motor-starting device, including a valve and a casing thereforcontrolling the admission and exha't'st ofanimpelling flnid to and fromsaid cylinder, a finger normally in the letter-path, connections betweenthe finger and valve, whereby the valve is held in one position when thefinger is in the letter-path and in another position when the finger isont ot' the letter-path, the valve being turned to its motor-startingposition by the displacement of the finger from the letter-path, and atooth or projection on the die-cylinder adapted to co-operate with saidmotor-starting mechanism in resetting the motor during the rotation ofthe die-cylinder, as set forth.

7. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination, withletter-feeding mechanism and an impression-roll, of a die-cylinder,

. a driver having a clutch adapted to engage the die-cylinder andnormally separated therefrom, a motor, including a cylinder, a piston.and a lever operated by movements of the piston, connections betweensaid lever and driver-clutch, whereby said clutch is made operative by amovement of the piston in one direction, means for operating the clutch,the motor-starting mechanism, including an oscillatory valve and acasing therefor adapted to control the admission and exhaust of animpelling-fluid to and from the cylinder, a valve-operatin g leverengaged with the shaft of said valve, a movable yoke or frame having afinger arranged to stand in the letterpath, a spring whereby said fingeris yieldingly held in the letter-path and an arm arranged to bear on thevalve-operating lever, said arm holding the valve in its motor-resettingposition through the operating-lever when the finger is in theletter-path, and means, such as a spring W whereby the valve is causedto assume its motor-starting position when the finger is displaced fromthe letterpath by an advancing letter, as set forth.

8. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination, withletter-feeding mechanism and an impression-roll, of a die-cylinder, adriver having a clutch adapted to engage the die cylinder and normallyseparated therefrom, a motor, including, first, a cylinder; secondly, apiston therein; thirdly, a lever adapted to be moved by said piston,and, fourthly, connections between said lever and the piston, wherebythe lever is given an operating movement by the forward movement of thepiston, devices controlled by the motor, whereby the clutch is connectedwith the diecylinder when said operating movement takes place,motor-starting mechanism operated by an advancing letter to give thepiston its for- Ward movement, and means operated by the rotation of thedie-cylinder to give the piston a backward movement, as set forth.

9. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination, with adie-cylinder, a driver having a clutch normally separated from andadapted to be engaged with the die-cylinder, a motor, inclndin g acylinder, a piston therein, and a lever adapted to be moved by saidcylinder when the motor is operated, motor-starting mechanism consistingof a. movable yoke or frame having a finger yieldingly held in theletter-path, an oscillatory valve and a casing therefor adapted tocontrol admission and escape of an iupelling-fluid to and from saidcylinder, a valve-operating lever having a gear-segment meshing with agear in the shaft of the valve, a spring ar-- ranged to move the valvethrough said lever to position to give the motor its clutch-operatingmovement, an arm on said yoke or frame arranged to prevent the action ofsaid spring when the finger is in the letter-path, the spring beingpermitted to act by the displacement of said finger, and a tooth orprojection on the die-cylinder adapted to engage another arm on saidyoke or frame, during the rotation of the die-cyiinder and thereby movethe yoke or frame to its starting position, thus causing the movement ofthe valve to the position for resetting the motor, as set forth.

10. The combination, with a die-cylinder, a driver having a clutchnormally separated from and adapted to be engaged with the diecylinder,a motor which includes a cylinder, a piston tl1erein,-and a leveradapted to communicate motion from said piston, and devices controlledby the motor whereby the clutch is connected with the die-cylinder whenthe motor is operated, of a motor-starting mechanism, including a valvechest or casing connected with the opposite ends of the cylinder by twopassages and provided with two inlets for an impelling-fluid and twoexhaustports, a valve in said casing having two pairs of ports, eachadapted to coincide alternately with one of said passages and with twoexhaust-ports adapted to coincide alternately with the exhaust-ports ofthe casing, said valve being subdivided, as described, so that one portof each pair is separated from the other, a spring-pressedquerating-lever engaged with the shaft of the valve and adapted to holdthe valve in one of its positions, a spring-eontrolled lever-actuatingyoke or frame having a finger yieldiugly held in the letter-path, and anarm arranged to force the valve through the operating-lever to its otherposition against the stress of the operatinglever spring, as set forth.

11. The combination, with the feed-rolls, impression-roll, anddie-cylinder, of a driver having a clutch normally separated from andadapted to be engaged with the die-cylinder, a motor, devices controlledby the motor adapted to connect the clutch with the diecylinder, saidmotor including a cylinder, a piston therein, a lever adapted tocommunicate motion from said piston, a valve chest or casing, and avalve therein, an operatinglever engaged with said valve, the yoke 01-frame mounted to both slide and oscillate on the shaft of one of thefeed-rolls and provided with a finger arranged to move thevalve-operating lever, a spring to yieldingly retain said yoke or framein the position from which it is adapted to be moved by a letter, and adeflector, such as j, arrangedto yield to the movement imparted to theyoke or frame by a letter and to obstruct the return movement caused bythe spring, whereby the yoke or frame is retracted during its returnmovement and prepared to re-enter the letter-path in the properposition, as set forth.

12. In a machine for marking mail-matter, the combination of adie-cylinder, a driver therefor having a clutch which is normallydisconnected from the die-cylinder, amotor, including a cylinder and apiston therein, a lever adapted to communicate motion from said piston,devices controlled by the motor, whereby the clutch is connected withthe die-cylinder when the motor is operated, an air-pump or compressoroperated by the power of the machine to supply the motor with compressedair, a motor-starting mechanism including avalve controlling theadmission and exhaust of the compressed air, and devices operatedthrough the agencyof an advancing letter to give the motor itsclutch-operating movement, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of October, A. D.1891.

MARTIN V. ETHRIDGE.

Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

